By Delana Isles From TC Weekly News

Thirteen fresh charges have been laid against the seven remaining SIPT defendants, after an eventful week to get the matter moving along as quickly as possible.

The new charges were officially filed in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 3, following strict instructions by Chief Justice Mabel Agyemang two days prior.

The charges are six counts of bribery, three counts of conspiracy to defraud the Government, three counts of concealing or disguising the proceeds of criminal conduct and one count of conspiracy to disguise the proceeds of crime.

The Director of Public Prosecution is going ahead with a retrial of the seven defendants, after the first trial ended with the tragic passing of the trial judge. 

The defendants are Michael Eugene Misick, Floyd Basil Hall, McAllister Eugene Hanchell, Jeffrey Christoval Hall, Clayton Stanfield Greene, Thomas Chalmers ‘Chal’ Misick and Melbourne Arthur Wilson.

The case comes up for another hearing on March 17, when it is expected the chief justice will make a judgement on the progression to a trial, following her ruling on arguments from both sides and on the prosecution’s evidence.

Bribery Counts one, three, five, six, seven and eight name Michael Misick, Floyd Hall, McAllister Hanchell in a number of bribery schemes. 

Several well-known businessmen and prominent figures are named in these bribery schemes. 
These individuals include Peter Wehrli, Jak Varet Civre; representatives of Beaches Group including Gordon Arthur Stewart, Mario Hoffman, Richard Padgett; and representatives of the Logwood Development Company and related and connected entities including Harold Charles, Alan Lisenby, Matt McDonald and Scott Boatman. 
Misick, Hall and Hanchell are alleged to have accepted inducements in the form of cash, credit, entertainment and more from these individuals so they would act in a way that was contrary to the ordinary rules of honesty and integrity expected of ministers of the Crown. 

These offences, and all of the other offences, are alleged to have occurred on several occasions between 2003 and 2009.

Conspiracy to defraud In counts two, four and nine on the indictment, Michael Misick, Floyd Hall, McAllister Hanchell, Jeffrey Hall, Melbourne Wilson and Thomas Misick are alleged to have conspired to defraud the Crown, the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands and or the Belongers, by arranging the transfer of Crown land. 
The land named in these charges are in Water Cay, North West Point and West Caicos. 

The Crown is alleging that the six above named defendants conspired together with Lillian Boyce, Samuel Ernest Been, Quinton Albert Hall and Earlson Mcdonald Robinson to sell Crown land at rates contrary to the economic interests of the territory and its people.

Concealing or disguising the proceeds of criminal conductCounts 10, 11 and 12 on the indictment name attorneys Clayton Greene and Thomas Misick, alleging that they concealed or disguised the proceeds of criminal conduct, knowing or suspecting it to be the proceeds of criminal behaviour of Floyd Hall, Michael Misick and McAllister Hanchell. 

The prosecution alleges that this was done so as to avoid the making or enforcement of a confiscation order or avoiding prosecution for unlawful conduct.

This offence is contrary to section 30 (2)(a) of the Proceeds of Crime Ordinance 1998.  Conspiracy to disguise the proceeds of crimeCount 13 alleges that between June 13, 2002 and the August 31, 2009 Michael Misick and Floyd Hall conspired together to disguise bribes they received, as payments to the Progressive National Party (PNP) accounts.

Once delivered to the party account, it is alleged that the criminal proceeds were disguised as political donations to the party.

However, the prosecution alleges that once delivered to the party account, the money was actually used for the personal benefit of Misick, Hall and others.

For more on this story go to: TCNEWS